How to watch Chelsea vs Benfica: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time in Champions League

It's been a bruising few weeks for Chelsea. A mix of injuries, red cards, and demoralising losses have soured the mood, with Enzo Maresca under growing pressure to reverse the slide.

The Blues have begun the new season lethargically, with tired legs - undoubtedly exacerbated by a gruelling Club World Cup campaign that deprived most of the squad of a proper summer break - key absences, and a lack of on-pitch cohesion contributing to three losses and two draws in eight matches so far.

Next up is a Champions League face-off with Benfica. However, what initially seemed like a manageable tie has morphed into a potentially volatile, high-stakes encounter given the Portuguese club's recent appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager - wiping away any sense of respite Chelsea might have expected following demanding away trips to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, with a daunting clash against Liverpool looming.

For the Conference League champions, this increasingly feels like a must-win - not just to keep their aspirations of reaching the Champions League knockout stages alive, but also to salvage something from a run of disappointing performances and results.

Maresca is likely to think twice before resting key players ahead of the Liverpool match, but with rhythm and consistency scarce, it's difficult to determine who truly counts as indispensable at the moment, save for one or two names. For those wanting to catch the action, here's everything you need to know, courtesy of football.london.

When is Chelsea vs Benfica?

Chelsea's meeting with Benfica will be staged on Tuesday, September 30 at Stamford Bridge, London. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm UK time.

What channel is Chelsea vs Benfica on?

The game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting from 7pm. Viewers with TNT Sports can also stream the fixture through the Discovery+ app on mobile or tablet devices.

In addition, highlights and short clips - including goals - will be shared on their official X account, while extended highlights will be posted on their YouTube channel later that evening.

What's the Chelsea team news?

Chelsea will be missing several crucial players for the tie, most notably Cole Palmer, who is recovering from a groin problem. Maresca has confirmed the talismanic midfielder won't feature again until after the upcoming international break, though concerns over the need for surgery appear to have eased.

Levi Colwill and Liam Delap are also sidelined with long-term ACL and hamstring injuries. Defensive issues worsen with Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo also unavailable, both nursing calf injuries.

There is, however, a boost: Trevoh Chalobah, dismissed against Brighton, is eligible for this match - though his suspension will keep him out versus Liverpool, placing additional strain on Fofana and Adarabioyo's recoveries.

New arrival Dario Essugo is still ruled out with a thigh injury, leaving Moises Caicedo with little chance for rotation. On a brighter note, Romeo Lavia returned at the weekend and could ease the load, though after his extended spell on the sidelines, Chelsea are unlikely to overuse him immediately.

What's Chelsea's track record against Benfica?

Chelsea boast a flawless competitive record against Benfica, having won all four encounters. Their most recent clash was at the Club World Cup this summer, where the Blues triumphed 4-1 after extra time in the round of 16.

Prior to that, Chelsea defeated Benfica 2-1 in the 2013 Europa League final, thanks to an unforgettable injury-time winner from Branislav Ivanovic. The season prior, they knocked out Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals en route to their historic 2012 victory, winning 3-1 on aggregate.

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